Apparatus for measuring elastic fed to a sewing machine

ABSTRACT

This apparatus permits the operator of a sewing machine to accurately determine the length of elastic tape which is attached to a garment, such as the elastic waist band of panty hose and the like. The apparatus includes an endless flexible band supported adjacent the sewing machine head and in clear view of the sewing machine operator. An indicating mark is provided on the band so that the operator can determine when one revolution of the band has been completed. The elastic band is driven in timed relation to the elastic tape fed device on the sewing machine so that its movement constantly indicates the length of elastic tape which has been attached to the garment.

' Uite ll Faifi 91 George 1March 20, 1973 [54] APPARATUS FOR MEASURING ELASTIC FED TO A SEWING MACHINE [75]' Inventor: McCona L. George, Sweetwater,

Tenn.

[ 3] Assign: Clerks: s m CQEBBPJZL d yi-v sion of Gehe sco: City, Tenn.

Filed: Sept.l 7 1971 Appl. No.: 181,361

US. Cl ..1l2/l21.26, 112/136 1 Int. Cl. ..D05b 21/00 Field 0fSearch...l12/2, 121.26, 121.27, 121.24, 112/121.25', 136, 203

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1912 Weis ..112/2 12/1941 Evan s 12/121.26 9/1959 Reimer ..1 12/12l.26

3,089,691 5/1963 Berry ..1 12/l2l.26 X 3,219,002 11/1965 Levy "HZ/121.26 3,448,707 6/1969 Thomsen ..112/l21.26

Primary Examiner-James R. Boler Attorney-Paul 13. Bell et a1.

ABSTRACT This apparatus permits the operator of a sewing machine to accurately determine the length of elastic tape which is attached to a garment, such as the elastic waist band of panty hose and the like. The apparatus includes an endless flexible band supported adjacent the sewing machine head and in clear view of the sewing machine operator. An indicating mark is provided on the band so that the operator can determine when one revolution of the band has been completed. The elastic band is driven in timed relation to the elastic tape fed device on the sewing machine so that its movement constantly indicates the length of elastic tape which has been attached to the garment.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures APPARATUS FOR MEASURING ELASTIC FED TO A SEWING MACHINE This invention relates generally to an apparatus for determining the length of elastic tape fed to a sewing machine and more particularly to such an apparatus which can be attached to various types of sewing machines for accurately indicating the length of elastic tape which is being attached to a garment.

When attaching elastic tape to the waistband portion of various types of garments, such as underclothing, panty hose and the like, it is the general practice to provide elastic fed means on the sewing machine for feeding the elastic tape to the stitching point at a predetermined rate, relative to the operation of the sewing machine. However, the length of elastic which is attached to successive garments can vary considerably because the sewing machine operator can feed the garments to the stitching means under varied degrees of tension so that the garment is in a relaxed or stretched condition. Thus, successive garments of a particular size may have varying lengths of elastic tape attached thereto. This practice is undesirable for several reasons. For example, the use of more elastic tape than is necessary is wasteful and'adds to the cost of producing the garment. Also, when the amount of elastic tape is not proper, the garment will not properly fit a person of the garment size.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for accurate ly measuring the length of elastic tape which is attached to a garment by a sewing operation. This apparatus indicates to the operator when the proper length of elastic tape has been attached to the garment.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for indicating the length of elastic which is fed to the sewing machine and attached to the garment, and which apparatus can be easily attached to a wide variety of different types of sewing machines having means for feeding the elastic tape to the" stitching needle at a predetermined rate. Further, the measuring apparatus of the present invention may be easily adjusted so that varying lengths of elastic tape can be attached to various sized garments.

In accordance with the present invention, the apparatus includes an endless flexible indicator band which is supported adjacent the stitching means of the sewing machine and in clear view of the sewing machine operator. The band is driven from the elastic tape fed means of the sewing machine and in timed relationship to the rate at which the elastic tape is fed to the stitching means. lndicator means is carried by the flexible band so that the operator can determine when one revolution of the band has been completed and will then know that the proper length of elastic tape has been attached to the garment. Also, the operator can continuously ascertain the length of elastic tape which is being attached to the garment and can make any necessary changes in tension on the garment to insure that the proper length of elastic tape is attached to the garment.

Some of the objects and advantages of the invention having been stated, others will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the measuring apparatus, illustrating the same attached to a sewing machine head, indicated in dash-dot lines;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation illustrating the manner in which the measuring apparatus is attached to the sewing machine head, indicating the manner in which the elastic tape is fed to the stitching means and showing the adjustment of the flexible indicator band in dotted lines; and I FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2 and illustrating the manner in which one end of the indicator band is supported for adjustment on a guide pulley.

The measuring device of the present invention may be attached to various types of sewing machines which are provided with feed roll means for feeding an elastic tape to the stitching means so that it is properly positioned to be attached to a garment. The sewing machine illustrated in the drawings include a work supporting face having an overhanging needle head 11 carried thereby. Stitching means, in the form of a needle 12, is reciprocated vertically from the needle head 11 and a presser foot 13 cooperates with a feed dog, not shown, to move the fabric beneath the needle 12.

The elastic tape, indicated at E, is fed to the needle 12 by any suitable type of feed roll means and is illustrated as being generally of the type disclosed in US. Pat. No. 2,901,991. A rocker arm 14 is reciprocated by the drive mechanism of the sewing machine and the upper end of a connector link 15 is adjustably connected thereto to vary the amount of vertical movement which is imparted thereto. The lower end of the connector link 15 is suitably connected to a rock arm 16 which is in turn connected to one end portion of a drive shaft 17. The drive shaft 17 is provided with a one-way clutch device, not shown, so that step-by-step rotation is imparted thereto with movement of the rocker arm 14. A tape feed roller 20 is fixed on the outer end of the shaft 17 and engages the inner surface of the elastic tape E. A second feed roller 21 bears against the outer surface of the elastic tape E and is supported for rotation in brackets 22, 23 which are suitably secured on the needle head 11.

As the elastic tape E is withdrawn from a suitable supply source, not shown, it passes downwardly and over a guide rod 24 and between guide rollers 25, 26, before passing between the feed rolls 20, 21. The elastic tape E is then guided downwardly and passes beneath the feed dog 13 and the needle 12.

The length indicating and measuring apparatus of the present invention includes an endless flexible indicator band 30, preferably formed of stretchable material such as woven elastic tape, which is provided with indicator means, such as a band of transversely extending color indicated at 31, carried by the band so that the operator can determine when one revolution of the band has been completed. When one revolution of the band has been completed, the operator will know that the proper length of elastic tape has been fed to the stitching means for the particular garment being sewed.

Means is provided for supporting the band 30 adjacent the needle head- 11 and in clear view of the sewing machine operator. This support means includes a first pulley 33, driven in a manner to be presently described, and'a second pulley 34. The pulley 34 (FIG. 3) is supported for free rotation on a stub shaft 35 and it is held in adjusted position by a thumb nut 36. The Stub shaft 35 is provided with a shoulder and penetrates an adjustment slot 37 (FIG. 1) in an L-shaped support bracket 38. The inner end of the support bracket 38 is suitably secured to the needle head 11 of the sewing machine and the bracket 38 is provided with suitable positioning indicator lines or marks adjacent the longitudinally extending slot 37.

Means is provided for driving the indicator band 30 from the elastic tape feed means of the sewing machine and in timed relationship to the rate at which the elastic tape E is fed to the stitching means. In the present instance, the driving means includes a drive shaft 40 which is suitably connected to and extends outwardly from the feed roll 21 and the drive pulley 33 is fixed thereto (FIG. 1). A suitable pointer in the form of an angle clip 42 is attached to the front surface of the needle head 11 and provides a reference point for the operator to determine when a complete revolution of the indicator band 30 has been made.

The measuring apparatus of the present invention is illustrated as being used in attaching a waistband to the waist opening of a panty hose type of garment, the upper portion of which is indicated at 45 in FIG. 1. When beginning the sewing of the elastic tape E to the upper waist opening of the blank 45, the operator will make sure that the indicator mark 31 on the band 30 is aligned with the pointer 42. When the elastic tape E is attached to the waist opening of the panty hose 45, the mark 31 should again appear opposite the pointer 42. If the operator ascertains that the indicator band 30 will not make a complete revolution by the time the leading end of elastic tape E is reached, the operator will apply a greater tension on the panty hose to stretch it so that a greater length of elastic tape E will be attached to the remaining portion of the panty hose. On the other hand, if the operator ascertains that the band 30 will make a complete revolution before the sewing ofthe waistband is completed, the operator will then feed the panty hose at a faster rate so that the proper length of elastic tape E is attached to the waistband. Thus, the operator uses the band 30 as a guide to determine the amount of tension to be applied to the panty hose, relative to the rate of feed of the elastic tape E and to thereby insure that the same length of elastic tape E will be applied to each successive panty hose 45.

When it is desired to vary the amount of elastic tape which is fed to successive garments, such as when panty hose of a different size are to be sewed, the length of the indicator band 30 may be increased or decreased by adjustment of the pulley 34 along the adjustment slot 37 in the bracket 38. Thus, as the pulley 34 is moved outwardly along the bracket 38, the indicator band 30 will be stretched and will be increased in length (as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2) so that an increased length of elastic tape E will be attached to the panty hose. On the other hand, when the pulley 34 is moved inwardly along the bracket 38, the elastic band 30 will contract and will be decreased in length (as shown in solid lines in PK]. 2) so that shorter length of elastic tape E will be attached to the panty hose.

Thus, the indicating and measuring apparatus of the present invention provides a simple attachment for a sewing machine whereby the operator can accurately ascertain the length of elastic tape which is being fed to the stitching means and being attached to a garment blank. The apparatus of the present invention may be easily adjusted for attaching the proper length of elastic tarlae to garment blanks of various sizes.

n the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

That which is claimed is:

1. In a sewing machine having stitching means and feed roll means for feeding an elastic tape to said stitching means for attachment to a garment, the combination therewith of means for measuring the length of elastic tape fed to said stitching means and stitched to the garment, said measuring means comprising a. an endless flexible indicator band,

b. means supporting said indicator band for rotation adjacent said stitching means and in clear view of the sewing machine operator,

0. means for driving said indicator band from said elastic tape feed means of said sewing machine and in timed relationship to the rate at which the elastic tape is fed to said stitching means, and

d. indicator means carried by said indicator band whereby the operator can determine when one revolution of said indicator band has been completed and can thereby ascertain the length of elastic tape fed to said stitching means at all times during the sewing operation.

2. In an apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said feed roll means comprises a pair of feed rolls between which the elastic tape passes in its path of travel to said stitching means, wherein said support means comprises first and second spaced apart pulleys around which said band passes, and wherein said drive means drivingly connects one of said feed rolls to said first pulley.

3. In an apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said flexible indicator band is elastic, and including means supporting said second pulley for adjustment toward and away from said first pulley to thereby vary the length of said flexible band.

4. In an apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said pulley support means includes a support bracket attached at one end of said sewing machine and extending outwardly therefrom, and means for supporting said second pulley at the desired position along said bracket.

5. In an apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said support means for said second pulley comprises a stub shaft for rotatably supporting said second pulley, an elongate slot extending along said support bracket and being penetrated by said stub shaft, and means for securing said stub shaft in adjusted position longitudinally along the slot in said support bracket. 

1. In a sewing machine having stitching means and feed roll means for feeding an elastic tape to said stitching means for attachment to a garment, the combination therewith of means for measuring the length of elastic tape fed to said stitching means and stitched to the garment, said measuring means comprising a. an endless flexible indicator band, b. means supporting said indicator band for rotation adjacent said stitching means and in clear view of the sewing machine operator, c. means for driving said indicator band from said elastic tape feed means of said sewing machine and in timed relationship to the rate at which the elastic tape is fed to said stitching means, and d. indicator means carried by said indicator band whereby the operator can determine when one revolution of said indicator band has been completed and can thereby ascertain the length of elastic tape fed to said stitching means at all times during the sewing operation.
 2. In an apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said feed roll means comprises a pair of feed rolls between which the elastic tape passes in its path of travel to said stitching means, wherein said support means comprises first and second spaced apart pulleys around which said band passes, and wherein said drive means drivingly connects one of said feed rolls to said first pulley.
 3. In an apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said flexible indicator band is elastic, and including means supporting said second pulley for adjustment toward and away from said first pulley to thereby vary the length of said flexible band.
 4. In an apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said pulley support means includes a support bracket attached at one end of said sewing machine and extending outwardly therefrom, and means for supporting said second pulley at the desired position along said bracket.
 5. In an apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said support means for said second pulley comprises a stub shaft for rotatably supporting said second pulley, an elongate slot extending along said support bracket and being penetrated by said stub shaft, and means for securing said stub shaft in adjusted position longitudinally along the slot in said support bracket. 